TODAY IN HISTORY – JANUARY 5th
1949 - Born on this day, George Brown, singer, Kool & The Gang, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Celebration', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hits).
1950 - Born this day, Chris Stein, musician, guitar, (group: Blondie: In the Flesh, Denis, [I’m Always Touched by Your] Presence Dear, Picture This, Hanging on the Telephone, Sunday Girl, 1979 UK and US No.1 single Heart Of Glass, Dreaming, Union City Blue, Atomic, The Tide is High, Rapture, 1978 world-wide No.1 album Parallel Lines. Also solo: French Kissin’; scored theme: Fifteen Minutes).
1967 - During The Beatles Sgt Pepper sessions at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney recorded his vocal track on 'Penny Lane.'
1968 - Jimi Hendrix was jailed for one day in Stockholm, Sweden on drink charges after going berserk and destroying everything in his room at the Goteberg Hotel.
1969 - Born on this day, Brian Warner, (Marilyn Manson), 1998 US No.1 album, 'Mechanical Animals', UK No. 12 single, 'The Dope Show'. His stage name was formed from juxtaposing the names of two 1960s American cultural icons, Marilyn Monroe and convicted multiple murder Charles Manson.
1969 - During the band's first North American tour, Led Zeppelin played the last of four nights at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, with Alice Cooper as the opening act. Zeppelin were billed as 'Led Zeppelin featuring Jimmy Page, formerly of the Yardbirds'.
1973 - Bruce Springsteen released his debut album 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.' Recorded in a single week the album only sold about 25,000 copies in the first year of its release. Both 'Blinded By The Light' and 'Spirit In The Night' were released as singles but neither made a dent in the charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band later released a version of 'Blinded By The Light' on their album 'The Roaring Silence,' which reached #1 on the US charts in 1977.
1976 - Former Beatles roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment. His girlfriend called police when she found Evans upset with a rifle in his hand; he pointed the gun at the police who opened fire. Friends later said that Evans was depressed about his separation from his wife Lil Evans — who had asked for a divorce before Christmas.
1980 - KC and The Sunshine Band had their 5th US No.1 single and scored the first No.1 of the 1980's when Please Don't Go hit No.1 in the UK.
1980 - Donna Summer scored her third US No.1 album with 'On The Radio- Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & II.'
1983 - Everything But The Girl made their live debut at the ICA in London. They took their name from a second hand furniture store in Hull.
1984 - The group, The Police, planned a farewell concert for March 2 in Australia. After nine years together, band members decided to go their separate ways.
1991 - Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Justify My Love. It was co-written with Lenny Kravitz.
1991 - Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.' It became the lowest selling No.1 since 1960, with just over 42,000 copies sold in its first week.
1997 - No Doubt went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Tragic Kingdom.'
1998 - Died this day, Sonny Bono, composer, producer, actor, restaurateur, politician, aged 62, was killed after slamming into a tree while skiing at a resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Bono, formerly married to entertainer Cher (he was 29, she was 17 when they married), had become active in politics following their breakup. He had served as the mayor of Palm Springs, California, and a congressman. The pop duo Sonny and Cher had several big hits, including The Beat Goes On and I've Got You, Babe. (Worked as a record packer).
2001 - Kirsty MacColl was laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony, ahead of a public memorial to pay tribute to her life. The singer songwriter was killed in a boating accident on 18 December 2000.
2003 - Canadian singer Avril Lavigne went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut release 'Let Go'.
2003 - Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being stopped in California speeding in a black BMW convertible. He failed a breath test and was taken to Berkeley county jail and was later released on $1,053 (£657) bail.
2004 - Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer-songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse at gunpoint. Davies was admitted to the Medical Centre of Louisiana but his injuries were not considered serious. New Orleans police said one person had been arrested, and police were still searching for the second.
1949 - Born on this day, George Brown, singer, Kool & The Gang, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Celebration', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 hits).
1950 - Born this day, Chris Stein, musician, guitar, (group: Blondie: In the Flesh, Denis, [I’m Always Touched by Your] Presence Dear, Picture This, Hanging on the Telephone, Sunday Girl, 1979 UK and US No.1 single Heart Of Glass, Dreaming, Union City Blue, Atomic, The Tide is High, Rapture, 1978 world-wide No.1 album Parallel Lines. Also solo: French Kissin’; scored theme: Fifteen Minutes).
1967 - During The Beatles Sgt Pepper sessions at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney recorded his vocal track on 'Penny Lane.'
1968 - Jimi Hendrix was jailed for one day in Stockholm, Sweden on drink charges after going berserk and destroying everything in his room at the Goteberg Hotel.
1969 - Born on this day, Brian Warner, (Marilyn Manson), 1998 US No.1 album, 'Mechanical Animals', UK No. 12 single, 'The Dope Show'. His stage name was formed from juxtaposing the names of two 1960s American cultural icons, Marilyn Monroe and convicted multiple murder Charles Manson.
1969 - During the band's first North American tour, Led Zeppelin played the last of four nights at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, with Alice Cooper as the opening act. Zeppelin were billed as 'Led Zeppelin featuring Jimmy Page, formerly of the Yardbirds'.
1973 - Bruce Springsteen released his debut album 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.' Recorded in a single week the album only sold about 25,000 copies in the first year of its release. Both 'Blinded By The Light' and 'Spirit In The Night' were released as singles but neither made a dent in the charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band later released a version of 'Blinded By The Light' on their album 'The Roaring Silence,' which reached #1 on the US charts in 1977.
1976 - Former Beatles roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by police at his Los Angeles apartment. His girlfriend called police when she found Evans upset with a rifle in his hand; he pointed the gun at the police who opened fire. Friends later said that Evans was depressed about his separation from his wife Lil Evans — who had asked for a divorce before Christmas.
1980 - KC and The Sunshine Band had their 5th US No.1 single and scored the first No.1 of the 1980's when Please Don't Go hit No.1 in the UK.
1980 - Donna Summer scored her third US No.1 album with 'On The Radio- Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & II.'
1983 - Everything But The Girl made their live debut at the ICA in London. They took their name from a second hand furniture store in Hull.
1984 - The group, The Police, planned a farewell concert for March 2 in Australia. After nine years together, band members decided to go their separate ways.
1991 - Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Justify My Love. It was co-written with Lenny Kravitz.
1991 - Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.' It became the lowest selling No.1 since 1960, with just over 42,000 copies sold in its first week.
1997 - No Doubt went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Tragic Kingdom.'
1998 - Died this day, Sonny Bono, composer, producer, actor, restaurateur, politician, aged 62, was killed after slamming into a tree while skiing at a resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Bono, formerly married to entertainer Cher (he was 29, she was 17 when they married), had become active in politics following their breakup. He had served as the mayor of Palm Springs, California, and a congressman. The pop duo Sonny and Cher had several big hits, including The Beat Goes On and I've Got You, Babe. (Worked as a record packer).
2001 - Kirsty MacColl was laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony, ahead of a public memorial to pay tribute to her life. The singer songwriter was killed in a boating accident on 18 December 2000.
2003 - Canadian singer Avril Lavigne went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut release 'Let Go'.
2003 - Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being stopped in California speeding in a black BMW convertible. He failed a breath test and was taken to Berkeley county jail and was later released on $1,053 (£657) bail.
2004 - Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer-songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse at gunpoint. Davies was admitted to the Medical Centre of Louisiana but his injuries were not considered serious. New Orleans police said one person had been arrested, and police were still searching for the second.